The old man realized that at this rate, his training would progress at a monstrous rate. After waiting for a while, he looked at Kai and said:
- All right lad, let's go teach you a lesson!
The old man wanted to see how the boy would learn. Maybe fate had given him an incredible martial arts genius in exchange for intelligence?
As he approached the entrance of the cave, Master Mo lazily sat down in a lotus pose. It was as if smoke appeared around his finger and he began to write on the stone rock. It looked as if he was just stroking the soft clay. Wherever his finger passed through, there were clear and even lines.
Master Mo began to explain to him the meaning of the symbols and how to read them. The old man explained that the writing system was called hieroglyphic, where the combination of simple symbols could conceal whole concepts and riddles. Yet, individually, these symbols stood for quite mundane and routine things.
He also explained that some elements of the Array Technique were also based on writing. But simply repeating the pattern of the writing would not be enough. Only by understanding the true meaning of the character and properly infusing energy into it could it become part of the array.
This could be called spiritual writing or energy writing. By combining hieroglyphs into whole meaningful formations while properly infusing energy into them, one could create amazing things. It was a whole separate craft. Without understanding, just drawing scribbles and randomly injecting energy, you just won't be able to do anything. And in the worst case, the energy could enter a state of disharmony and there would be an explosion!
That's why Mo said that for mortals, complex hieroglyphics and formation systems are too incomprehensible. To them, they're just marvelous scribbles....
The old man also said that energy utilization was the basis for many different crafts. All of them were somewhat similar to Array Crafting and were inaccessible to ordinary people. There were many of them, such as: Alchemists, Blacksmiths, Tamers, Artifact Makers, and many others.
- I understand you, Master! I will definitely remember everything! - Kai nodded firmly.
He was incredibly attracted to all the information his master was telling him. He felt as if a divine book had been opened before him, which revealed to him the secrets of existence. At the orphanage, he had not had the opportunity to learn even a fraction of such knowledge!
- Well done! Study diligently, as you have to live up to your master! - Mo said instructively.
But at this moment, a different phrase sounded in his thoughts.....
"Yeah... I don't know how I should react...'' Which is stronger, his will or his mind? I was lucky enough to find such a nugget.... I guess it's fate!"
The old man spent a long time showing Kai the different basic elements of hieroglyphics, which, when folded, could describe different meanings and words. Kai, in turn, memorized everything carefully and thoroughly....
When Mo had written enough different characters, they finally finished. The old man said that Kai had enough for today, and in the next few days he must learn everything perfectly. Only then would he write him new ones. Kai at this time just nodded and agreed with the old man.
Next, Mo began to tell him a little more about the world around them....
- Kid, this world is saturated with energy. It's everywhere, in the air, in fire, even in the deep ocean! There are many masters who absorb and even control it. They are called martial artists or cultivators.
- The strongest of them can even fly and destroy mountains with a single movement! And these are not fairy tales or legends for children. You're from a small village. To you and the people you know, such things may seem miraculous. But the world is a very big place, you can't even realize how big.... - We are now in the Forest of Silent Death. It's mostly filled with ferocious beasts that can tear even humans at Warrior Peak to shreds. The only reason they avoid us is because they're afraid of me. I came here on purpose so no one would bother me. But here you are. Heh-heh. - Laughing, with kindness in his eyes, Mo added.
- The Silent Death Forest is not some dangerous forbidden land. For true martial artists, there is nothing to look for, but for weak people, it is deadly, hence the name.
- It's on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Dranglik. And your village is somewhere east of the forest, near the borders of the Ghost Halberd Empire. To the west of us is the sea... - The old man excitedly told me, ''The Dranglik Kingdom is part of the Moonlight Shine Empire. I'm sorry to say this, but the people of the Phantom Halberd Empire had nothing to do with the deaths of your loved ones. Rather, they were simple bandits who disguised themselves as them... - The old man seemed to be contemplating whether or not to say it... But then he still decided to tell the truth.
- Since the Empire of the Moon Shine, the Empire of the Phantom Halberd, and two others are under the control of a more overwhelming force, they cannot conflict with each other. The four empires pay tribute to this force every year and pray for their offspring to be accepted into its ranks. This force would never allow a war to start in their region. So if you have any scores to settle with your abusers, you should look around your village. But for now, you're too weak for that...'' - Moe added honestly.
- I understand you, master! - Seriously replied Kai.
He had already decided that he would seal away any emotions about the past. At least until he was strong enough.
- Good... What a beautiful sprout. - Replied Mo with praise and patted Kai on the shoulder.
Over this week, they slowly started to get used to each other.
- ''I'll give you a secret to keep you motivated! When you become strong enough, and your body and mind harden..... Then your control over all your muscles will be perfect to teach you the three techniques! - Master Mo said intriguingly.
- The first one is the Ghost Blade Technique. It is not incredibly powerful, you don't even need to use energy for it. It can be said that even mortals can learn it. If I had to characterize it, I would say that it is the perfect technique for killing! The blade is ghostly because once you touch it, anyone becomes a ghost. It teaches you clear movements and all the points and weaknesses on your opponent's body. After learning it, you will take life with any of your moves, as each one will become deadly. You should never underestimate fundamental and basic techniques! Another advantage of this technique, is that you can safely combine it with other attacking techniques in the future.
- Next up is a movement technique - it's called the Shadow Tag Dance. Believe me, my boy, it's incredible! But you'll need energy to use it, so it's too complicated to explain what it's all about. But remember how I find myself near the beasts in the blink of an eye? Hehehe..." the old man laughed intriguingly, "So, that was only the most basic function of it. - When Mo said this, Kai's muscles shook with excitement and his fists clenched with admiration.
- And the last technique was the cultivation technique. Cultivation techniques were methods that taught a unique formula and mantra. They must be repeated during meditation while moving the energy in one's body along the strict route provided in the technique. Each technique is unique... There are simple techniques, there are incredibly powerful and heavy! There are techniques that focus on some natural element or strengthening the body in general. There are an incredible number of them... In large Sects and Clans, the stronger techniques are only passed down to the direct descendants and are kept in strict secrecy..." Old Man Mo continued.
- The name of this cultivation technique is the Invisible King Torture Technique! - Master Mo said seriously.
- ''Tsk... Kid, I would never give it to you because of its incredible difficulty...'' And also, because of the torture you'll have to go through in the process. It's an incredibly mysterious technique I found in a forbidden land during one of my world travels. - It seemed that some memories were now flashing through the old man's eyes.
- Alas, the moment I obtained it, I was already old. For a very long time, I had cultivated a different technique that was fundamental to my Sect. And it was no longer possible to change it to a new one.....
- That's why I left my duties in the Sect and came here to try my luck at cultivating it. But it turned out to be useless... This technique has to be learned from the beginning, starting from the Warrior stage... So the only option is to destroy the cultivation I've been working on all my life and start over. - Mo said with a wry smile, "But alas, I am not immortal.... I don't have time for that anymore..." The old man sighed melancholically.
It was obvious that he was a bit saddened, but by no means depressed. He seemed to have accepted this state of affairs a long time ago.
- Kid, I don't know how to explain it, but I think it's fate. I will pass this technique on to you. But remember, the technique is not so easy to pass on... It can only be written down by someone who has reached the pinnacle! No one else can copy it, even if they copy it word for word! - Mo explained seriously, "It's like the Array Technique. Without understanding it, it would just be a strange writing. That's why there are Sects that many people try to join. Only there can they obtain strong cultivation techniques that are written by the Sect Masters themselves. Or even its stronger Ancestors! - Said Master Mo taking out a black as pitch scroll.
It seemed as if it was made of a strange stone and had some writing on it. And in the very center was a bulge in the shape of a creature's head.....
- This same technique... One of a kind! No one in the world can copy it because there are no masters who know it at the highest level. And even if there were, they're long dead! Even I don't know what she is capable of at the highest levels. - The old man said frankly and continued, "To understand each of the subsequent stages of the technique, you need to perfectly master the previous one. I've only tried to master the initial stage, and I don't know what will happen next. But even after trying to cultivate its first level, I can say that it is... Unique! - Completely serious, Old Man Mo gave out
Hearing about all three techniques, Cai was completely shocked! He quickly bowed and said:
- Thank you, Master Mo! I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart! No one has ever shown me so much kindness in this life! A master once is a master for life! - Kai spoke these words from the very depths of his heart.
- We're done with our studies, now let's go eat, and then we'll have nightly training of reflexes and other senses of touch. - Slightly embarrassed, Old Man Mo quickly gave out.
In fact, he was just trying to change the subject. When Kai uttered his last sentence, something snapped in the old man's soul.
He had never taken on any disciples.... Everyone was either rich boys, or hothouse plants, or overly courteous.... In his whole life, he'd turned them all down! But towards the end, he found someone he truly recognized as his apprentice!
He had no family, he had only pursued strength and the pinnacle of martial arts his entire life. But today it seemed as if he had a grandchild! Moreover, Kai was behaving in such a way that his reciprocity was obvious. The old man caught himself thinking that he was very happy right now!